Weekly Climate Bulletin Dec.8,1993

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TOTAL PRECIPITATION (mm)
November 24 - December 5, 1993 [12 days]
CUMATE ANALYSIS CENTER, NOAA

RENEWED HEAVY RAINS ENHANCE A WET START TO
SOUTHERN AFRICA’S 1993~-1994 RAINY SEASON. Since
late November, heavy rains fell on large sections of southern Africa,
e, specially along South Africa's southeastern coastline, through
central and southern Zimbabwe, in central Zambia, and across
southern Mozatnbique, Most of these areas received over 100 nun of
rain during November 24 - December 5 , with totals reaching nearly
300 nun in central Zimbabwe and extreme ,southern Mozambique.
Ihe recent spell of wet weather added to the moisture surpluses
which began accumulating through much of southern Africa in late
September. More than 150% of normal precipitation was imasttred
during the 51 -day period beginning Septetnber 26 across most of the
eastern half of South Africa (except Natal and the 'fransvaal), across
the northeastern half of Botswana, through southern Mozambique,
along the northwestern tier of the Transvaal, in all but northeastern
Zimbabwe, and across extreme southern Zambia. The largest
departures were observed through southern and southwestern
Zimbabwe, where 220% ~ 325% of normal precipitation fell during
September 26 ~ December 5. Most locations across eastern South
Africa and southern and western Zimbabwe reported accumulated
surpluses of 100 - 270 mm during this period. Between 300 and 380
mm of rain fell on the southern Transvaal, parts of eastern South
Africa, a few locations in southwestern Zimbabwe, and isolated
parts of northwestern Botswana.

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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE-NATIONAL METEOROLOGICAL CENTER

CLIMATE ANALYSIS CENTER

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GLOBAL CLIMATE HIGHLIGHTS

MAJOR CLIMATIC EVENTS AND ANOMALIES AS OF DECEMBER 4, 1993

WETNESS DEVELOPS.

Up to 40 mm of precipitation fell on the region as six-week moisture surpluses
ranged from 50 to 160 mm [WET - 6 weeks].

MODERATE PRECIPITATION BRINGS LIMITED REUEF.

Totals of 60 to 125 mm were reported across most of the region, with 125 to 225
mm along the Pacific Coast and the Washington Cascades. Six-week moisture def-
icits, however, remained near 270 mm at some locations [DRY - Ending at 15
weeks].

STILL UNUSUALLY WET.

As much as 120 mm of rain drenched Uruguay while up to 170 mm soaked north-
eastern Argentina, Six-week moisture excesses approached 250 mm in Uruguay
and Argentina (see page 2) [WET - 7 weeks],

4. Europe:

COLD AND DRY CONDITIONS PERSIST.

According to press reports, snow and ice snarled travel in France and Belgium
while bUzzard ccmditions prevailed in parts of Croatia and Romania. Temperatures
averaged as much as 7*’C below normal across much of eastern Europe, with depar-
tures reaching -17°C in parts of Russia and the Ukraine [COLD -4 weeks]. Less
than 20 mm of precipitation was reported on most of the continent, althou^ totals
approached 50 mm in the United Kingdom and southern Scandinavia. Six-week
moisture deficits ranged from 50 to 200 mm [DRY - 7 weeks],

5. Greece:

COLD AIR REMAINS ENTRENCHED.

Temperatures averaged as much as IS^C below normal in Kazakhstan, and depar-
tures ranged from -4°C to -14°C across much of Asia from the Urals eastward to
China [COLD - 7 weeks]. Farther south, heavy rain and snow closed roads, dam-
aged propeny, and triggered avalanches in portions of Iran, according to press re-
ports [Episodic Event).

7. East-Cen tral China and Southern Japan:

ABNORMALLY WET WEATHER DEVELOPS.

As much as 80 mm of rain soaked east-central China while up to 130 mm drenched
southern Japan last week, aggravating several consecutive weeks of above normal
precipitation. Moisture surpluses since late October ranged from 50 to 210 mm
[WET -6 weeks],

8. Taiwan:

PROLONGED DRYNESS CONTINUES.

Although scattered showers yielded up to 60 mm of rain, most of the island re-
ceived little orno precipitation, and six-week moisture deficits remained near 190
mm [DRY - 25 weeks],

9. The Philippines;

TYPHOON LOU USHES COUNTRY.

Torrential rains, with amounts approaching 200 mm, and winds gu sting to ISOkph
from Typhoon Lola claimed 35 lives, forced over 15,000 people fron their homes,
and disrupted transportation across southern Luzon, according to press reports
[Episodic Event],

W. Thailand. Malaysia, and Sinfaporei

HEAVY RAINS CAUSE PUSH FLOODING.

Hash floods claimed several lives, destroyed over 70 homes, and snarled traffic
across the region, according to press reports. Rainfall totals for November 27-29
exceeded 500 mm on the southern Isthmus of Kra [Episodic Event],

ABOVE NORMAL PRECIPITATION CONTINUES.

TROPICAL CYCLONE POUNDS REGION.

Moderate precipiution (40 to 50 mm) fell at Greece, where six-week surpluses The third tropical cyclone of the season to hit the state of Tamil Nadu (in southern
ranged from 60 to 130 mm. Long-term moisture deficits remain through most of India) brou^t up to 200 mm of rain and strong winds which claimed at least 70

the country, but the recent wet spell has mitigated water shortage problems [WET lives, left thousands homeless, triggered landslides, and halted rail service, accord-

- 6 weeks]. ing to press reports [Episodic Event],

EXPUNATION

TEXT: Approximate duration of anomalies is in brackets. Precipitation amounts and temperature d^tutures are this week’s values^
MAP: Approximate locations of major anomt^es and episodic events are shown. See other maps in this Bulletin for current two we«^
temperature anomalies, four week precipitation ariomtdies, long-term anomalies, and other details.

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UNITED STATES WEEKLY CLIMATE HIGHLIGHTS

FOR THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 28 - DECEMBER 4, 1993

Two storm systems struck portions of the eastern half of
the nation with strong winds and heavy rains that generated
widespread flash flooding. The first storm battered the Northeast
and mid-Atlantic at the start of the week, generating gale winds and
heavy surf along the middle and northern Atlantic Seaboard and
locally torrential downpours of up to eight inches in 24 hours (some
of which fell on Saturday, November 27). Winds in excess of 50
mph downed numerous large trees near Malone, NY, while roofs of
condominiums were blown off in Bridgeport, CT. In Pennsylvania,
the flooding of Conewago Creek near East Berlin forced the
evacuation of 35 homes, and several people were rescued from
flood waters in Bedford County. In Maryland, the
Baltimore-Washington Parkway was closed for more than eight
hours by heavy rain, according to press reports. The second storm
developed over the southern Plains late Thursday and then rapidly
moved northeastward, spreading heavy rain and severe weather
from the southeastern Plains and the lower and middle Mississippi
Valley to the northern and middle Atlantic Coast. Between two and
nine inches of rain inundated much of the area from northeastern
Texas and southeastern Oklahoma eastward to the central and
southern Appalachians, sending rivers and creeks out of their banks.
Wind from one thunderstorm damaged several homes near
Moreauville, LA, resulting in three injuries, while trees were
downed and buildings damaged in Oakdale, LA, according to press
reports. Tornadoes and strong thunderstorm wind gusts caused
minor damage in McComb, MS, Jefferson MS, Collins, MS, and
Wetumpka, AL, Rising creeks in southeastern Kentucky inundated
roadways in Knox and Clay Counties, stranding residents and
flooding some homes. Elsewhere, a series of Pacific Ocean storms
drenched much of the northern and central Pacific Seaboard with
two to eight inches of needed precipitation, lessening the affects of
the region’s slow start to the 1993-94 wet season.

At the beginning of the week, a strong storm system
buffeted the Northeast and mid-Atlantic with strong winds and
heavy rain before moving into the Atlantic Ocean. Elsewhere,
lake-effect snows left locally heavy accumulations across
Wisconsin and northern Illinois on Sunday and over western New
York on Monday. Meanwhile, an upper level disturbance dusted the
middle Mississippi and lower Ohio Valleys with light snow. Farther
west, rain and a wintry mixture of precipitation dampened the
Pacific Northwest ahead of an advancing Pacific frontal system. By
Tuesday evening, the Pacific frontal system pushed into the
northern High Plains, central Rockies, and southern Great Basin,
causing widespread precipitation in the Far West and the northern
and central central portions of the Intermountain West and Rockies.
To the east, a large high pressure system brought mild and tranquil
weather to the rest of the nation in the wake of the early-week storm.

At mid-week, the western frontal system trekked into the
central portions of the nation, bringing rain to eastern Oklahoma
and freezing rain to parts of the upper and middle Mississippi
Valley. In the Northwest, a second Pacific front generated more
widespread precipitation, with heavy snow recorded in the higher
elevations. Nearly a foot of snow blanketed the central mountains of

Idaho. During the latter part of the week, the front in the central
portion of the nation moved quickly eastward, spreading rain from
the Plains to New England before dissipating on Friday.
Meanwhile, the frontal system in the Northwest sped
southeastward, producing scattered precipitation over the northern
and central Rockies and northern High Plains on Thursday, heavy to
moderate rains in the southeastern Plains and lower and middle
Mississippi, lower Ohio, and Tennessee Valleys on Friday, and
widespread rain with locally heavy amounts to much of the eastern
half of the nation on Saturday. At week’s end, a third Pacific front
swept inland, generating scattered rain (snow in the higher
elevations) over the Northwest, northern California, and the
northern Rockies while the eastern storm system continued to bring
windy and rainy weather from the Ohio Valley to the Northeast.

According to the River Forecast Centers, the greatest
weekly precipitation totals (between two and nine inches) fell from
the midie Red River Valley of Texas and Oklahoma eastward to the
Tennessee Valley, northeastward to the northern portions of the
mid-Atlantic, and northward across New England. In addition,
totals exceeding two inches were reported across northern
California, western Oregon, and western Washington, with similar
more scattered amounts over the middle Mississir * ’ *

Valleys, the northern Intermountain West, the ce'
coasL southeastern Alaska, the Big Island of '
remainders of the lower Mississippi Valley and tf
to moderate amounts were measured in the nr
Rockies, the northern Plains, central AJask'
remainders of the Pacific Northwest, m
California, the southeastern Plains, the lo\
southern Alaska, Hawaii, and the nation ea.<

Little or no precipitation was reported in southern California, the
Great Basin, the desert Southwest, the southern Rockies, the central
and southern High Plains, the upper m*

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